Come Thou Fount

These are my cute parents...

They are serving in the Mississippi Jackson Mission. Mom is getting used to the humidity and Dad is getting used to Southern hospitality! They love their mission and the younger Elders and Sisters that are serving with them. One of their responsibilities is to do apartment checks on transfer day. NOW... right here you need to know that my Mother keeps the cleanest house this side of the Mississippi-- so clean that when we were dating, my husband thought that our front room (you know, the visiting teacher room) was kinda like the rooms at the capitol that are roped off and NOBODY EVER GOES IN EXCEPT TO DUST!

So, when my Mom was telling me about their assignment to check apartments, I told her she should get a pair of white gloves, you know... to kinda freak the missionaries out a bit. She said the weirdest thing had happened, they had brought their clothes home from the laundry mat and dumped the whites out on their bed to fold and would you believe at the bottom of that pile was a perfect white glove!!! I told her it must be a sign! HAHA!

Clean apartments or not, these missionaries serve the Lord with all their hearts, might, minds and strength! It is a beautiful thing to see the light of Christ in their eyes!

I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go

You know, I am not aware of another group of kids (because that's what they are) that not only leave their family, friends, pets, cars, hobbies, etc... for 18 months to 2 years... but, have NO IDEA where they will be living for that period of time!!! WHAT FAITH!

I can only imagine the thoughts that go through a young man or young woman's head when they read those first few lines of their mission call! "What if I get called to Alaska?... I don't like the cold.... what if I go to Florida?.... the humidity will kill me.... pleeeeeeeease don't be an island mission....fish makes me GAG!

...and then... everything is OK because the Lord sends them right where He needs them to be. :)

Put Your Shoulder To The Wheel / Goofy III

Missionaries work hard... really hard. Their day starts out early and a lot of them are on bikes or on foot all day and then don't fall in bed till 10:30 pm! They are studying and serving, finding and loving, laughing and crying... 18 months to 2 years of their lives! 

Hattiesburg Zone, Jackson Mississippi Mission

As you may very well know, hard work is so much easier to do when you can make it fun! That's another thing that Missionaries get really good at... having fun while they work!

Sit back and enjoy these missionaries enjoying their missions!

Here Am I, Send Me

Young men and young women leave their friends, families, schooling and hobbies behind to go out into the world and share the gospel. It is not easy. It is not always fun. But, they do it because they love the Lord and His Gospel.... and you can see the Light of Christ shining through their countenance!

Let Us All Press On

Let us all press on in the work of the Lord,

That when life is o'er we may gain a reward;

In the fight for right let us wield a sword,

The mighty sword of truth.

If we do what's right we have no need to fear,

For the Lord, our helper, will ever be near;

In the days of trial his Saints he will cheer,

And prosper the cause of truth.

We will not retreat, though our numbers may be few

When compared with the opposite host in view;

But an unseen pow'r will aid me and you

In the glorious cause of truth.

Fear not, though the enemy deride;

Courage, for the Lord is on our side.

We will heed not what the wicked may say,

But the Lord alone we will obey.

Text and music: Evan Stephens 1854 - 1930

Onward Christian Soldiers

I've been working hard to get into shape. I am hoping to be able to walk/jog the 5K at the LDS Missionary Expo in April! A dear MM friend and Sista, Melody Levine and her beautiful daughter Kendal, will be there sweat'n it out with me! You can read Kendal's amazing story and get updates on her progress on the Facebook Page that Melody has put together, Prayers for Sister Kendal Levine. Come join in the fun and get healthy too! You will know us... we will be the Mommas in the "Mommas Hastening the Work" T-shirts! You can participate wherever you are!!! Let us know if you'd like to head up a MM team in your area!



Available at the MM Mall

On April 25th, put on a pink tee (or you can get one of ours from the MM Mall) and sander, walk, jog, dance or run with us!!! You can go as far as you'd like at a pace that is comfortable for you. They will have 1K - 3K - 5K options at the Expo. OR, come cheer for the MM Team! You can join in the fun and stay updated on on the Mommas Hastening the Work Page!

We are Missionary Mommas... a force to be reckoned with! We have sons and daughters who work hard to serve the Lord. The Missionary Handbook instructs missionaries to "Arise, pray, exercise (30 minutes), and prepare for the day." I think this is good advice for anyone... even us Mommas!

~Heidi =0)

Check out how creative these missionaries are when it comes to their exercise!

Because I Have Been Given Much

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! 

Every February, our thoughts seem to turn to our sweethearts, flowers.... and, of course, chocolate! This year, we asked the MMs to post pictures of their Missionaries showing love. WOW...not one picture of chocolate! In fact, the pictures posted got me thinking in a very different direction! 

I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with each of these pictures, because in so doing, my thoughts have been turned to the Savior and his love. These kids literally take the name of Christ upon themselves when they put on their name tag! 

So, this year I will view Valentines in a little bit different light! I want to show my love to those around me by serving them! And on another bright note... service is much better for my waistline!  ;)

~Heidi 

Three Day Penny Challenge

Do you remember Elder Zach Jensen's faith-building story? A year ago this Friday, Elder Jensen's accident happened and testimonies grew! Please welcome Elder Jensen's Momma, Laura Jensen as this weeks Guest Blogger! We would like to join with Laura in inviting you to join us in the Three Day Penny Challenge!

~Heidi

Always Remember Your Savior Loves You

While serving in the Arizona Phoenix Mission, Elder Jensen placed a penny in 

his shoe to help him “Always Remember Christ.” While attempting to turn left across 

four lanes of traffic on February 13, 2014, Elder Jensen & Elder Linkogle were T-boned, 

spun 3 times, and then broadsided again on the passenger side by a half-ton pickup

before landing in a ravine. Elder Jensen’s skull fractures produced a blood clot, the size 

of a tennis ball that was increasing in size and placing pressure on his brain. On 

Valentine’s morning, Elder Jensen’s head was shaved and he wished all of the medical 

staff, “Happy Valentine’s Day” on his way to emergency brain surgery to remove the 

blood clot and cauterize the bleeding around his brain. During surgery, Elder Jensen 

received a huge scar in the shape of a “C” with 25 staples. Meanwhile, Elder Linkogle 

recovered from his concussion and memory loss, and was released from the hospital on 

Valentine’s Day.

Missionary work took place for six days in Elder Jensen’s ICU room. Elder 

Jensen shared the gospel with every nurse and every hospital staff member that he 

came in contact with. “I was still a missionary in ICU and invited all of the medical staff 

to go to Mormon.org and learn more about our faith. Even a couple of them seemed 

really interested. So I am glad to say that I used my time the ‘best’ that I could in 

sharing the gospel while in ICU.” Elder Jensen’s ICU room became a spiritual and 

sacred haven with angels attending. “Anyone that comes by and visits can feel the 

presence of angels that are in my room.” Marcy Black, a member that visited Elder 

Jensen often shared, “If they don’t let Elder Jensen go home soon, he will convert the 

hospital. We took our 18 year old daughter to visit Elder Jensen and she couldn’t stop 

talking about the feeling in his ICU room.”

As Elder Jensen was preparing to leave the hospital, he discovered that his “Always

Remember” penny was still in his shoe!! This same penny had made it through his 

accident, through the ride in the ambulance, through the ER, and through his six days in the ICU.

Elder Jensen will “Always Remember” that he was never alone on that February night. 

He will “Always Remember” that angels were protecting and watching over him, that his 

Heavenly Father loves him deeply and knows him personally, and is involved in the 

details of Elder Jensen’s life. By “Always Remembering Him,” Elder Jensen was blessed 

with power to do hard things. “

This picture of Elder Jensen's shoe was taken 4 months after Elder Jensen's accident,

I LOVE that his shoe is so worn, dirty, & cracked

from the missionary work that he was blessed to continue to do.

“I am so thankful for this accident, because it has helped me become more converted 
to Him and His gospel. I have learned that we need to treat every day like it is our last 
and truly cherish the gospel. It is through the knowledge I have of the gospel of Jesus 
Christ that I was able to have peace and comfort through this trial in my life. Always 
have hope, no fear, and no doubt, and I promise through this gospel that miracles will 
happen in your life.” -Elder Zach Jensen

Three Day Penny Challenge of “Always Remembering Christ”

Beginning on February 13th, please invite your friends and family to place a 

penny in their shoe to remind us all to “Always Remember Him.”

Elder D. Todd Christofferson explains, “To ‘Always Remember Him’ means 

that we do not live our lives in fear. Challenges, disappointments, and 

sorrows will come to each of us in different ways. In the end, because of 

our divine Advocate, all things can be made to work together for our good.”

What do you do to remember the Savior always?

How has remembering Him blessed your life?

Elder Jensen’s story is full of miracles, tender mercies, love, service, faith, priesthood 

blessings, and the blessing of missionary opportunities. To read more go to 

http://elderzachjensen.blogspot.com/2015/02/test-post.html